A J Hinch

The bottles of champagne were almost empty, and the giddy New York Yankees were dousing each other in champagne and shaving cream. Then, in the midst of the celebration, Derek Jeter's voice rose above the din: "Enjoy it for a couple of days. But we've got three more steps to go, fellas." Yes, the Yankees were thrilled to clinch their sixth consecutive American League East title with a 7-0 victory over the White Sox at Chicago on Tuesday night.

Invitations to try out for the U.S. Olympic team are out and five area players are in. Catcher Robert Fick and shortstop Adam Kennedy of Cal State Northridge, left-handed pitchers Randy Wolf of Pepperdine and Jim Parque of UCLA, and right-handed pitcher Jeff Weaver of Fresno State are among 45 players invited to report May 29 to Millington, Tenn., for a one-week tryout.

The Lancaster JetHawks got strong pitching and timely hitting to beat the Modesto A's, 5-3, and tie a season high with their fourth consecutive victory Wednesday in front of 3,302 at the Hangar. Right-hander Javier Gutierrez worked six strong innings before giving way to relievers Brian Sweeney (3-1) and Sean Spencer, who shut out Modesto over the final three innings.

Only one team of 48 selected for the NCAA Division I baseball regionals has greater reason to gripe than Cal State Northridge, which inexplicably was seeded fifth in the six-team West Regional. That team is Stanford, the Matadors' first-round opponent tonight at 7 at Sunken Diamond. The Cardinal (39-17), on a 16-game winning streak and ranked No. 7 in the nation, was not seeded No. 1 in the regional.

Tony Pena the manager promises to be just as tough and combative as Tony Pena the All-Star catcher. "I believe you go out and play hard baseball," said the new Kansas City Royals' manager, renowned during his 18-year career as one of the major leagues' most aggressive players. "I believe in that. There will be rules and we're going to have to follow the rules." A five-time All-Star with Pittsburgh and St.

It took 96 days, but for Brad Fullmer, it was worth it. Fullmer has signed with the Montreal Expos for a bonus package worth $520,000, including $100,000 for college, ending negotiations that began when the Montclair Prep infielder was drafted in the second round June 3. Fullmer signed at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, following a negotiating session at which Expos' scout Scott Stanley presented what he said was Montreal's final offer.

Maybe managers should mess up their lineup cards more often. The Tampa Bay Rays' Joe Maddon and the Houston Astros' Cecil Cooper both hurt their teams with Managing 101 mistakes in the last week but won those games. . . . The St. Louis Cardinals are getting really worried about Khalil Greene, who Tony La Russa says he'll treat as a "utility player" while Greene deals with anxiety issues. . . . . Bryan Price, who resigned his pitching coach job with the Arizona Diamondbacks after A.J.

A day after ending their second straight losing season, the New York Mets fired manager Jerry Manuel and general manager Omar Minaya , actions that had been widely expected. After starting the season with a $133-million payroll, fifth-highest in baseball, the Mets finished 79-83, 18 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East. There have been no playoff games in Queens since the Mets fell one game short of going to the World Series in 2006. "The last four years have been the most painful to me," team owner Fred Wilpon said, "and probably the most disappointing in what is over 30 years" as owner.

After crushing seven home runs, five in the first inning, four in a row, and reducing once-proud Japan to Team Rag-Tag in a 15-5, mercy-rule victory, the U.S. baseball team put down its bats and kicked up its heels. Cigar, anyone? Somewhere, Cuba was watching. Thursday night's win, before 52,384 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, was as much a statement as it was a victory. Somewhere, Cuba was wondering.

One of the top home-run hitting teams in the majors showed Sunday they can win with more than just the long ball. The Oakland Athletics, who are second in the majors with 181 home runs, saw right fielder Matt Stairs preserve a tie by going to the wall and catching Shawn Green's one-on, two-out drive in the top of the ninth before Randy Velarde delivered a two-out, run-scoring bloop single off bullpen ace Billy Koch as Oakland defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3.